Big on Batteries: Octopus and CATL team up to unlock electric trucking across Europe
New joint venture ‘Swaptopus’ to roll out ultra-fast battery swapping technology that allows electric lorries to get back on the road in minutes instead of hours
First UK battery-swapping hubs to launch in 2027, scaling to 30+ mega hubs planned across Europe by 2035
Network could support 300,000+ trucks and unlock £30bn of private investment
London/Ningde, 22nd June 2026 – Global energy tech business Octopus Energy and CATL, the world’s leading battery manufacturer, have today announced a new joint venture (JV) to accelerate the shift to electric road freight – making moving goods cheaper and greener.
Announced at Octopus Energy’s flagship event – The Energy Tech Summit – the partners will build a European network of battery-swapping hubs that allow electric lorries to replace depleted batteries in minutes, eliminating long charge times and removing one of the biggest barriers to decarbonising heavy transport.
The first UK mega hubs are expected to open in 2027, with more than 30 planned by 2035. Each hub will be capable of servicing thousands of lorries a day.
Once in full operation, the partners believe the network could support 300,000+ electric trucks and unlock over £30 billion of private investment, reducing Europe’s dependence on imported oil and replacing it with homegrown green electricity.
The JV, which will be called ‘Swaptopus’, combines CATL’s world-leading battery technology and extensive swapping-station knowledge, already deployed at scale across China, with Octopus pan‑European energy supply, flexibility, trading and customer service expertise.
Greg Jackson, CEO and Founder of Octopus Energy Group, said: "Electric trucks already beat diesel on running costs, the challenge is keeping them moving. Battery swapping changes that. Instead of waiting for hours, trucks can be back on the road in minutes.
“By combining Octopus’s software and energy expertise with CATL’s world-class battery technology, we’re making clean freight practical at scale across Europe."
Dr. Robin Zeng, Chairman and CEO of CATL, said: "Battery swapping will be a significant part of the future of commercial transport. We have field-proven this technology in China, and we are delighted to bring it to the UK and Europe as part of our joint venture with Octopus.
“Together, our expertise in battery swapping, B2G and energy storage, paired with Octopus’s AI-powered energy trading and management technologies, will speed up the electrification of road transport across the region.”
William Rowe, CEO and Founder of Swaptopus, said: “We believe the future of land based transport is electric and autonomous, and battery swapping is a massive part of the enabling infrastructure. Not only does it significantly reduce down time but since the batteries at the swapping stations can be charged and discharged when the grid needs it, they act as a virtual power plant and in turn lower costs for consumers.”
Alongside electric trucking, Octopus and CATL are also exploring options to scale Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology across CATL’s global network of automotive partners, aiming to turn millions of future electric vehicles into virtual power plants that can feed cheap energy back into the grid during peak demand.
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Press Contacts
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About Octopus Energy
Octopus Energy is a global clean energy and technology business, driving the affordable, green energy system of the future. Under its own retail brand, Octopus delivers world-class customer service and cutting-edge energy products to 11 million households globally.
The company is driving the electrification of heat and transport through smart tariffs and innovative clean tech, with operations spanning 27 countries and the entire energy value chain. It operates a £7 billion renewables portfolio as well as thriving EV leasing, heat pump, and solar businesses.
Backed by pension funds, investors and energy giants, Octopus Energy Group businesses deliver cheaper, greener energy and cutting-edge tech to countries and customers worldwide.
For more information, check out our website.
About CATL
Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) is a global leader in new energy technology innovation, committed to providing premier solutions and services for new energy applications worldwide.
In June 2018, the company went public on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange with stock code 300750 and is also listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange with stock code 03750 in May 2025. In 2025, CATL’s EV battery consumption volume has ranked No.1 in the world for nine consecutive years, and it has ranked first in the market share of global energy storage battery shipments for five straight years. CATL enjoys wide recognition by global EV and energy storage partners.
Committed to making an outstanding contribution to the energy transition of mankind, CATL in 2023 announced its strategic goals of achieving carbon neutrality in core operations by 2025 and across the battery supply chain by 2035. So far all the 20 battery factories under the Company’s core operations have achieved carbon neutrality.
For more information, check out our website.
Octopus Energy and CATL are bringing battery-swapping hubs for lorries to Europe. Credit: CATL
An electric lorry driving into a CATL battery-swapping hub. Credit: CATL